Before you start
- Request insurance evidence and relevant examples.
- Compare the same marked scope.
- Ask who approves and prices unexpected work.
Give each bidder the same information
Prepare a marked work map, photos, access measurements, known hazards, and an explanation of the intended finish. Show what should remain as clearly as what should go. Consistent information makes the quotes more comparable.
Ask who will visit the site and who will run the work. Confirm that any assumptions made from photographs will be reviewed before machinery enters.
Check the agreement and evidence
Request current insurance evidence for the proposed operations and ask about relevant past projects. If a task needs a specialist or specific credential, confirm who performs it. A certificate of insurance is not a blanket guarantee that every incident will be covered.
Review scope limits, exclusions, payment terms, weather delays, and change approval. Avoid accepting a vague promise of complete clearing when the finish matters to another contractor.
Agree how completion will be judged
Use the same map and stated finish for the final walk. Clarify material left on site, stump conditions, protected areas, and follow-up responsibilities. Take matching photos to document the result.
If a hidden issue appears, pause and agree the response before additional work. Clear communication and evidence are more useful than dramatic equipment claims or an unsupported promise to beat every competing price.
A simple comparison you can take to each contractor
Put the proposals next to the same site sketch. Compare the marked area, access protection, retained trees, vegetation limits, material left on site, excluded tasks, and follow-up. Write an unanswered question beside each item rather than assuming similar-looking totals mean similar work.
For example, one proposal may leave a rough mulch finish while another includes hauling and preparation for a landscape contractor. Neither number can be judged fairly until you decide which result you need. If the first phase is all your budget covers, ask for a useful stopping point and a clear description of the remaining work. Keep that scope with the final agreement.
Plan the work for your property
Send the site address, recent photos, a marked clearing area, and the finish you want. We can discuss where clearing fits and what needs a different trade.
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